AMENDMENT OF STANDING ORDERS

4.16 p.m.

The Leader of the House (Mr E. W. Barker): Sir, I beg to move,

That Standing Order No. 95 (2) be amended by deleting the words "as Parliament may refer to the Committee" appearing in the tenth line thereof and substituting therefor the words "as the Committee may think fit".

Sir, the Government has accepted certain proposals of the Auditor-General for improving on the accountability of statutory institutions. One proposal recommends that Statements of Accounts of such institutions which are laid before Parliament be examined by the Public Accounts Committee. However, under paragraph (2) of Standing Order No. 95, only accounts showing the appropriation of the sums granted by Parliament to meet public expenditure and laid before Parliament stand referred to the Public Accounts Committee for examination. To implement this proposal the Public Accounts Committee, in paragraph 12 of its Second Report to Parliament as contained in Paper Parl. 3 of 1973, recommended that an appropriate amendment be made to the Standing Order. The amendment suggested in my Motion is to give effect to the Committee's recommendation. Moreover, it is so worded as to give the Committee discretion in the selection of accounts for examination.

Sir, I beg to move.

Mr Speaker: The Motion stands referred to the Standing Orders Committee under the provisions of paragraph 4 (b) of Standing Order No. 95.